Flu-related deaths now at 14 in New Hampshire

Officials encourage residents to get vaccine

"The amount of illness we are seeing here in New Hampshire is not yet to the point of alarming," said NH Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero. "However, it is cause for serious concern."

Montero said the number of deaths is unusually high this early in the flu season.

State officials said that there have been 40 institutional flu outbreaks this season in the state, with the majority occurring at nursing homes and long-term-care facilities.

Many hospitals in the state are also reporting an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for the flu, Montero said.

Officials are encouraging residents to get the flu vaccine.

"I have asthma, and so it's really important to people with respiratory issues to get a flu vaccine," said Lee Schwartz, of Manchester.

Health officials said they still have plenty of vaccine.

"This week, it's certainly been busier than we've seen over the past few (weeks). I think, with all the press that's come out, specifically around the city of Boston and issues that they’ve had, steps that they’ve taken, so there's certainly a heightened awareness of what's going on," said Manchester Public Health Director Tim Soucy.

Montero said the flu shot is the best defense against people can have.

"Data released today by the (Centers for Disease Control) is telling us that the effectiveness of the vaccine for this year -- and this is preliminary data -- is above 60 percent," Montero said.

"The folks who are being diagnosed with influenza, it does match the strains in the vaccine, so the vaccine will protect people against the flu that is circulating right now," Soucy said.

There are still five weeks left in the flu season, and doctors said the shot is still worth getting to help keep people, especially the older patients, out of the hospital.

Flu: Which states are most at risk?

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 states have reported a widespread flu outbreak. But what states are at greater risk?